12:15 PM - This just in - Frank "Pupie" Raia is at Hoboken City Hall's Clerk's Office and he's come bearing gifts for the filing deadling today.

In filing his petitions, Raia is officially a candidate for Michael Russo's Third Ward City Council seat.

Frank "Pupie" Raia seen here at a 2013 City Council forumis officially a candidate for the Third Ward seat facing offagainst Michael Russo.

In additional news, as promised, Hudson Tea Building condo president Tiffanie Fisher also filed today as a candidate in Hoboken's second ward. Beth Mason released a wacky statement on the Hoboken411 blog standing down for a real second ward representative to emerge.

To keep Fisher company on the ballot for second ward council, Brian Murray's wife Bonnie filed her petitions today too.

With Beth Mason out, Peter Biancamano is expected to also file as a candidate in the second ward by the 4:00 pm filing deadline.

As promised, Tiffanie Fisher seen here at City Hallfiled to be a candidate for the second ward council seatin this November's Hoboken election.

Hoboken's fourth ward has a trifecta of candidates going head to head. Incumbent Timmy Occhipinti is vying against Ruben Ramos and Reform's Dana Wefer. She made a visit to City Hall earlier today and posted a photo with her brand new baby girl.

Fourth ward candidate Dana Wefer today at City Hall submits herpetitions with her newest family addition: a baby girl.

Bizzarely, a release written by someone on her behalf announced the end of Beth Mason's notorious political career on Hoboken411.

Also known as Hate411, the blog Beth Mason called her "favorite news site" is where her political operatives held reign for years running political operations attempting to control all public discourse.

Fanciful stories were ghost written by fanatical minion Lane Bajardi in an attempt to advance her political career well into 2011 with Perry Klaussen following orders not unlike a sock puppet on censorship and production details right down to what caption to write in a story.

The timing of the dive bar's purchase GA notes just precedes the three year running SLAPP-suit which the Bajardis finances showed no ability to fund in the estimated hundreds of thousands of dollars ($400,000 - $500,000) against a dozen Hoboken residents in five different states with more than several lawyers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and California. (Double digits of NJ attorneys had spurned having anything to do with the SLAPP-suit.)

Beth Mason testified last February she had not funded the lawsuit herself (on her $22K City Council salary). She made no mention of her family funds which also squandered seven figures on her "political career."

Saturday, August 29, 2015

That's the hot rumor today as there's word petitions were picked up late Friday on behalf of Frank "Pupie" Raia for the third ward City Council seat.

If true, Hoboken and Councilman Michael Russo may see a repeat of Frank "Pupie" Raia's third ward challenge back in 2007.

That third ward council race was a barn-burner with Raia and Russo going head to head trading blows in a scorching match up.

Does Frank "Pupie" Raia have a summer Christmas presentfor Councilman Michael Russo? Could be as petitions forthird ward City Council were taken out late Friday on his behalf.Pupie Power is on the move!

The race quicky turned into a bruising affair with Raia calling on former mayor and Michael's father, convicted felon Anthony Russo to pay back the City of Hoboken owed approximately $350,000 in restitution.

Michael Russo returned fire with allegations on ELEC reports not filed by his opponent's campaign. Raia countered hitting back at Russo and his cousin, Terry Castellano saying they voted for every fraudulent invoice of Gerard Lisa who bribed Michael Russo's father with hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Cryan attempted to hold an orderly vote on a pro tem to run the meeting and conduct subsequent votes including for his own position of Chair but the Carmelo Garcia - Michael Russo faction hijacked the proceedings.

A bizarre vote with no tally followed leading to Jamie Cryan walking out as Freeholder Anthony "Stick" Romano was installed.

Talking Ed Note: To say Raia was not pleased with the highway robbery is an understatement. Now Raia who has a record of helping Hoboken residents through charitable efforts may be mounting another council bid. He currently sits as a commissioner on the North Hudson Sewerage Authority.

The NHSA is currently constructing a second flood pump uptown for the City of Hoboken.

The candidate filing deadline is Monday 4:00 pm at the City Clerk's Office.

Friday, August 28, 2015

Last night's annual spaghetti dinner was picture perfect and that was before a bevy of Hoboken City Council candidates showed up making the rounds in the unofficial beauty contest before the official filing deadline Monday afternoon.

First to make her announcement as a City Council candidate in the second ward, Tiffanie Fisher. In remarks at the dinner with MSV, she acknowledged she's submitting her petitions eager and willing to take on all comers.

Another recent effort Fisher worked with local residents of note is a new stop sign at 15th street. Councilwoman Beth Mason attempted to take credit for the effort recently on her Facebook page. That was met with scorn by Hudson Tea Residents who acknowledged efforts of other officials at City Hall notably excluding the unpopular litigious councilwoman.

Last summer Beth Mason crashed an annual gathering of Hudson Tea Building residents. They recalled her ignoring their warnings on the Monarch Project and had her thrown off the premises.

That reportedly followed with the Hoboken Fire Department arriving shortly thereafter questioning the safety of the event. Hudson Tea residents believe it was Beth Mason who retaliated ratting them out in an attempt to break up their family friendly soiree.

Yet another potential Second Ward council election development; three sources independently declared BoE Trustee Peter Biancamano will submit petitions and also challenge for the council seat.

Biancamano did not attend the dinner as a Board of Education committee meeting was underway and he was not immediately available for comment.

Tiffanie Fisher, the condo president of the Hudson Tea Building says she's officially a Hoboken City Council candidate for the second ward seat and has her petitions prepared for submission.Pictured at the annual spaghetti dinner here with second ward resident Franz Paetzold, Fisher's been very active in Hoboken issues offering a striking professional contrast to Old Guard incumbent Beth Mason.

Talking Ed Note: Anticipated candidates for Hoboken's November City Council ward races were out in force with BoE candidates showing as well.

First Ward Councilwoman Terry Castellano appeared as did her announced challenger Michael DeFusco. Councilman Michael Russo was in attendance with his family and is readying his re-election bid for the Third Ward. Rumors floated his potential challenger was out collecting petitions.

Fourth ward saw new mom and Hoboken Housing Authority Chair Dana Wefer make an appearance with the current occupant of the seat Timmy Occhipinti out and about.

Fifth ward was represented by both expected candidates. Two term Councilman Peter Cunningham had a table of supporters while his expected opponent Eduard Gonzalez also made the big end of summer dinner.

Sixth ward Councilwoman Jen Giattino motored the length of the tables while her expected opponent, Carmelo Garcia also showed.

The Board of Education was well represented with a number of current trustees. Incumbent for re-election Tom Kleupfel was spotted so too candidate Brittany Montgomery who ran for City Council in 2013. Da Horsey met BoE candidate Sheilah Dallara and her husband for the first time and they made the rounds chatting with a number of residents and reform activists.

Perenial candidate Patty Waiters was spotted outside the gathering and is expected to again run for a BoE trustee seat.

In the days ahead, the City of Hoboken will be transitioning operations of the Corner Cars on-street car sharing program from Hertz 24/7 to the new system operator, Zipcar.

Today, August 27, 2015 is the last day that members can make reservations for Hertz 24/7 vehicles located in Hoboken. All Hertz 24/7 vehicles will be off the street by August 31st.

On September 1st, Zipcar will be striping and installing signage at the on-street car sharing locations, and some Zipcar vehicles within the Corner Cars program will be available starting on September 2nd.

Zipcar currently has an additional 30 vehicles available now for reservation by community members. To join, visit www.zipcar.com.

Further details on how to transition from Hertz to Zipcar are forthcoming. However, if any Hertz members would like to change their membership to Zipcar immediately, please email NYCMarketing@Zipcar.com.

The Mile Square seeing no arrests and convictions from the Feds since felons Peter Cammarano and Patrick Ricciardi could be forgiven if they're feeling neglected.

Each year, there's evidence of federal crimes oozing out of every pore in town at election time, especially the fourth ward but no arrests follow.

In 2013, this website exclusively reported the Department of Justice was in town on Election Day. DOJ communications with Hoboken residents continued right through a civil trial on election fraud on the rent control ballot question but no handcuffs, perp walk or names in lights.

There was however a new wrinkle under a different federal law enforcement agency, distinct from the FBI with their own investigators. The outcome however from the public perspective didn't appear different.

The DOJ federal agents' questioning which followed and perhaps unrelated, the massive drug sweep and arrests in the Hoboken Housing Authority with the Hoboken Police Department under the new stewardship of Police Chief Ken Ferrante may be causing some present day agita.

One HHA employee closely aligned to former Executive Director Carmelo Garcia was spotted carrying an odd looking device for the office. Apparently he's in dire fear the Feds are bugging the place. Frequent electronic sweeps to detect bugs has become a regular fixture of his paranoia. Is there a Fed audio library to go with Mr. Carmelo's? What if the two should ever meet?

Beth Mason has been mostly out of sight, hiding out in Virginia since the blockbuster legal decision last month designating the lawsuit she announced in a live City Council meeting a frivolous SLAPP-suit. The echoes of owing close to $300,000 must be ringing in her ears and that of her political operative friends, Lane Bajardi and Kimberly Cardinal Bajardi. (Grafix Avenger tossed more of their emails on the barbie just yesterday.)

Which fin is on the chopping block or should be after gettingcounte$$ into one SLAPPy mess?

After two and a half years, a two week trial and four feet of motion papers, the Hudson Superior Court trial judge wasn't impressed with their "misrepresentations." That's legal speak for your pathological lying and lack of ANY evidence ends here.

Speaking of sightings, the serendipity of the universe yesterday saw this horse trot by former Mayor Peter Cammarano. It was the first time paths crossed since the February Bajardi v Pincus SLAPP-suit trial. Late hellos exchanged by both on passing. Awkward.

Former BoE official and friend of Pupie, Anthony Petrosino came out of the closet and showed up to testify he was a nasty Curious Gal but he had nothing of relevance to say and was promptly ejected out of the courtroom on a flight to Austin. Sorry Petro, courtrooms are not Hoboken City Council meetings where Old Guard political operations can run. Hopefully you get to keep the bonus miles with those round trip tickets courtesy of counte$$. Hey, let's chat again soon. Looking forward to it.

Last, we're almost officially into election season but as a public service to all points Mile Square, any insertion into the electoral process attempting to shape public discourse inclusive of election results is one of public concern. This includes financial re: political contributions. See ya on the ELEC report.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

On August 11, 2015, the Hoboken Police Department Detective Bureau was advised that there were questionable withdrawals being made out of a City of Hoboken municipal account. The Hoboken Finance Department immediately contacted the authorities when the irregularities were uncovered. Through an audit, it was determined that over $50,000 had been improperly removed from the accountover a short period of time. The City of Hoboken has not lost any funds as a result of the fraud.

The investigation, conducted by Hoboken Police Detective Andrew Perez, uncovered that access was gained into the account by 30-year-old Jersey City resident Cameron Gaskins by circumventing security protocols. With the help of the Jersey City Police Department, Mr. Gaskins was tracked down and arrested without incident. He has been charged with a multitude of criminal complaints including Computer Criminal Activity, Theft of Identity, Theft by Deception, Forgery, and Credit Card theft.

“Thanks to the prompt action of the bank, the proactive response by our finance and police departments, and the collaboration with the Hudson County Prosecutors Office and Jersey City Police Department, we were able to quickly track down and apprehend the perpetrator,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “I commend Chief Ferrante, all members of the Hoboken Police Department, and in particular our detectives who have been doing tremendous work and closing more cases than ever before.”

Mr. Gaskins is currently being held at the Hudson County Correctional Facility in lieu of a hundred thousand dollar bail.

"Identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in the United States - any person, business, or government can be victimized on any given day," said Police Chief Ken Ferrante. "These crimes are very difficult to solve, yet Detective Andrew Perez showed commitment to our city and our department in executing an outstanding investigation that put a three-time convicted felon behind bars within 8 days of the start of the investigation. I am proud of his work as a new detective."

“I credit the quick actions of the account manager for alerting the authorities and the relentless work of Detective Perez for bringing this to a quick resolution," added Police Captain Charles Campbell.

Moving forward, the Hudson County Prosecutor's office will be working with the Hoboken Police Department to investigate this matter further. Bank authorities have been contacted and already addressed the security concerns. At this time there seems to be no other irregular activity, and security measures have been upgraded.

A successful election effort would see Ramos' return to the Hoboken legislative body. Previously, Ramos was an at-large Hoboken City Councilman elected in 2001 under the banner of former mayor Dave Roberts.

In a recent interview with PolitickerNJ, Ramos however did not highlight anything specific to his time as a Hoboken City Councilman. Hoboken finances became chaotic under Mayor Roberts and led to the City of Hoboken subjected to a state takeover with the late Judy Tripodi taking the financial reins.

Ramos later served as a one term NJ Assemblyman under State Senator Brian Stack but a fallout over his agreement to support statewide pension reform saw him replaced with his friend Carmelo Garcia.

Most recently, Ramos was the main challenger in a failed bid against Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer's re-election in 2013.

Although that transformative idea failed, Ramos is rumored aligned with local private developers. Developer backing, inside and outside Hoboken may play a major role in Ramos' campaign bid to return to Hoboken's City Council.

Monday, August 24, 2015

The August 31st petition filing deadline looms closer and the gristy chewables are tenderized and seared that go with it.

By 4:00 pm next Monday, you file petitions or you take a walk.

Some potential candidates should be happy to walk quietly into the night in lieu of a perp walk.

This is Hoboken, so unless the Feds snap out of their Hoboken coma, that won't happen. The Mile Square City is after all the home where co-conspirators get a free pass when it comes to the theft of a hundred thousand emails out of the mayor's office or carting off taxpayer goods out the back door of the Hoboken Housing Authority and underwriting a three year SLAPP-suit against the First Amendment rights of residents.

The free pass in Hoboken emboldens the criminal and there's nothing like an election line-up under the shimmering lights here to highlight it. The Mile Square City is where you switch from criminal activities to political candidate and call it Darwinian career progression.

We'll get to more of the Carmelo Ticket later. For now, let's catch up on the chatter from the Mile Square streets and venture a look how the six ward elections races are stacking up.

They're back? The Carmelo Ticket is all set for election season and SLAPP-suit loving Beth Mason may be preparing oodles of street money again as six Hoboken City Council ward seats are up this November. A ready infusion of cash from inside and outside of the Mile Square, legal and illicit will ooze its way all over town taking on Reform oriented candidates seeking to overturn their slim 5-4 majority.

This 6th Ward Update provides information about an upcoming flood insurance claim deadline, the new bike share launch, fall training for people interested in joining the Community Emergency Response Team, upcoming improvements to Washington Street and the Spaghetti Dinner.

If you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reply to this email.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING FLOOD INSURANCE

CLAIM DEADLINE

FEMA informs us that policyholders with the National Flood Insurance Program who believe that they were underpaid on their Hurricane Sandy claims must register to have their claim reviewed by September 15.

Early membership discount available starting today; System to Launch in September

The City of Hoboken, in partnership with Bike and Roll, nextbike, E3Think, and P3 Global Management, and, is announcing the pre-sale for Hudson Bike Share, a Hoboken-based regional bike share program, in advance of the planned launch in September. Beginning today, residents and visitors can immediately register for annual memberships by visiting www.hudsonbikeshare.com or through the nextbike mobile application. Annual memberships purchased before the launch will cost just $75 – a $20 discount off of the regular $95 annual fee.

The first phase of the program will feature 250 bicycles with next-generation "smart-bike" technology and 29 official stations in Hoboken. Users may ride anywhere within or outside of Hoboken during their rental. In addition to the 29 official stations within Hoboken, this first-of-its-kind program will permit riders to connect to regional transportation options and make longer visits to neighboring areas by allowing them to return and rent bikes from several locations outside of Hoboken without added fees. Thanks to on-board GPS technology and an integrated cable lock, riders will not be charged a fee for returning bikes to any legal bicycle rack within designated ‘Regional No Fee Zones’ outside of Hoboken. Bicycles that are not returned to official stations will be charged a $10 fee within Hoboken and $25 fee outside of Hoboken, with the exception of designated Regional No Fee Zones.

“We look forward to launching this cutting edge, next-generation bike share system which we believe represents the future of urban mobility," said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “Whether it’s part of your commute, to run errands, or just for recreation, bike sharing will provide a healthy and sustainable option to get around Hoboken and our area. Bike sharing should be accessible and affordable to everyone, and with 29 stations throughout our mile square city, no resident will be more than a 3 to 5 minute walk from a station. Thanks to the support of our sponsors, we will also be providing free and discounted memberships to residents of the Hoboken Housing Authority. And through a partnership with the Hoboken Shelter, we will be providing training and creating jobs to help some of our homeless residents gain employment and become more independent.”

The program will be operated by Bike and Roll, the largest bike rental company in the United States, and will use bicycle technology manufactured by nextbike, which has the largest international bike sharing network with over 25,000 bicycles in more than 80 cities in 15 countries.

“Bike and Roll is pleased to be operating a truly regional bike sharing program, featuring the most advanced technology, and to be partnering with the City of Hoboken to ensure that a world class level of service is provided,” said Bike and Roll CEO Chris Wogas. “Once again Bike and Roll has proved to be at the forefront of the cycling world and is happy to be working with Mayor Zimmer to advance bike sharing systems for everyone.”

“We are very proud to be the technology and operating partner for Hudson Bike Share,” said Sebastian Schlebusch, Director of International Business Development of nextbike GmbH.” After ‘Healthyride’ Pittsburgh, PA, ‘SkyBike’ West Palm Beach, FL and ‘Flash Fleet’ Kent University, OH, Hudson Bike Share will be the 4th smart bike system we are launching in the United States in 2015. We thank Major Zimmer for her dedication and continuous support to realize this project.”

“Hudson Bike Share is a true public private partnership,” said Carlos Pujol, CEO of P3 Global Management. “Mayor Zimmer has been an incredible advocate for this program and the people of Hoboken. The engagement between the Mayor’s office and the Hudson Bike Share team to build a true coalition of corporate and not-for-profit partners is an excellent example of how the private and public sector can partner together to provide innovative new services at zero-cost to tax payers.”

“Hudson Bike Share is a significant step forward for bike share for mid-sized cities,” said Tom Glendening, CEO of E3Think. “Not only is it 100% privately financed, but it is built on an advanced technological platform that can evolve, can be the basis of new shared urban mobility, and can be an economic driver.”

Hudson Bike Share's founding sponsors are Carepoint Health, Bijou Properties, Suez North America, Zipcar, Investors Bank, and Keller Williams City Life Realty. Sponsors will be recognized on bicycle panels and at select stations. Additional station sponsorships and corporate and group discounts are available. For more information, contact corporate@hudsonbikeshare.com.

“As a member of the Hoboken community, we are proud to be a founding sponsor of Hudson Bike Share,” said CarePoint Health System CEO Dennis Kelly. “With a large number of our employees living and working here, we are excited to help improve the quality of life in one of the places we call home.”

“We’re thrilled to be part of the launch of Hudson Bike Share in Hoboken and congratulate Mayor Zimmer and the City Council for their tireless efforts to bring this popular program to the City,” says Larry Bijou, managing partner of Bijou Properties. “As a local developer, we share their desire to create a more eco-conscience environment in Hoboken and have spent fifteen years firmly dedicated to introducing environmentally-responsible and pedestrian-friendly developments that promote healthier, cleaner living within the City. Hudson Bike Share fits perfectly into the green culture of Bijou Properties and the ongoing neighborhood enhancement in Hoboken by reducing traffic and congestion and encouraging a more active lifestyle. We’re delighted to support this program and help this City grow into one of Hudson County’s most cycle-friendly destinations.”

“The City of Hoboken, under Mayor Zimmer’s administration, has established a reputation as a leader in ‘green’ initiatives,” said Nadine Leslie, president of Suez North America. “Suez North America is excited to help this reputation by supporting Hoboken as a lead sponsor of the Hudson Bike Share.”

“Zipcar is excited to sponsor Hudson Bike Share as bike sharing and car sharing are truly complementary to one another,” said Anthony Fatone, regional general manager, Zipcar NYC. “Both enhance the quality of life for city dwellers by providing cost-effective alternative forms of mobility. We routinely hear from our members that they like to bike to and from work, or a commuter train station, and use Zipcar on the weekends for those occasions when they need a car.”

“Investors Bank is proud to support the City of Hoboken’s new bike share program,” said Investors Bank President and CEO Kevin Cummings. “We hope this new initiative will provide residents and visitors with an easy and fun way to get where they want to go.”

“We at Keller Williams City Life Realty are thrilled to be involved with this environmentally supportive, Hoboken-based project promoting the livability of our urban community,” said Renée Condon, Broker/Owner at Keller Williams City Life Realty. “Forward-thinking concepts like this make a difference in our daily quality of life. We are honored to be chosen as the exclusive local real estate company and intend to promote it to our clients, agents, friends and family. “

The system will feature “smart bikes," the next generation of bike share technology. Whereas traditional bike sharing systems rely on a "smart dock" approach for storing bicycles, which requires expensive infrastructure for docking stations, the "smart lock" approach features bicycles with built-in locks, GPS, and communications equipment, providing increased flexibility at a fraction of the cost. A common challenge with traditional bike share technology is the inability to return a bike at a station that is full, however even if a station is full, Hudson Bike Share members will have the ability to lock up at any standard available bike rack that is nearby or to lock the bike to itself and leave it next to the station.

The system will feature four stations with smart docks and kiosks at high-traffic locations along with 25 stations using standard bicycle racks.

Pricing options will include annual memberships along with weekly and daily passes. Annual memberships will cost $95 and include unlimited 45 minute rides. Additional fees will apply for exceeding the allotted time. Customers will be able to register online at hudsonbikeshare.com, using the nextbike smartphone application, or at solar-powered kiosks at select stations. Members will be able to rent a bicycle via the nextbike mobile application (iOS, Android, Windows), with a smart card, at kiosks, or phone call via an interactive voice response system.

In a developing investigation first reported on Grafix Avenger, a shady Weehawken bar thought managed by Councilwoman Beth Mason's senior political operative, James "FinBoy" Barracato is the subject of questions including its ownership.

Beth Mason is listed as a "general partner" in a state entity filing holding an unknown interest in Cooper Place, a Weehawken based bar since at least last year.

Weehawken dive bar Cooper Place is owned in some portion by Councilwoman Beth Mason.She's listed as a general partner in NJ business entity documents.

MSV first reported Beth Mason's ties to the bar earlier this year after obtaining her 2014 financial disclosure forms showing an interest in a Cooper Place, LLC. A reputed bar business, Cooper Place is situated in Weehawken within short walking distance of Barracato's Weehawken residence.

James "FinBoy" Barracato is believed to feature this reconstitutedlogo based on the gangster rapper film, "Straight outta Compton"on his Facebook page with "Hawken" representing Weehawken.

The controversial councilwoman, a virulent opponent of Mayor Dawn Zimmer and the Hoboken Reform Movement aligned with the Russo Clan back in 2009 in her first doomed run for mayor. She dropped out of sight last month missing four consecutive City Council meetings and lives in a multi-million dollar home on a hill overlooking upper Hudson Street. Questions why she's a business partner in a Weehawken dive bar are the latest in a series of seeming unending questions on her conduct and behavior as the sitting second ward council member.

Last February, in limited testimony at the Bajardi v Pincus SLAPP-suit trial, Mason offered James Barracato was her "business partner" who she "pays." She did not describe details of their business partnership.

Former Mason 2009 senior political operative Tom Bertoli testified in a 2014 deposition Barracato had been hired full time as a chief political operative for Beth Mason back in 2008. He also testified the Nazi Truck was conceived and executed by Barracato, Beth Mason's self-declared business partner.

Barracato's name surfaced in a Hoboken City Council meeting when Councilwoman Terry Castellano was unwittingly revealed adding his name in place of Mason's in an emailed request for litigation information of Hoboken's Corporation Counsel. Castellano would say she hit "the wrong button" as a reason for Barracato appearing on the request listing Old Guard council members.

A daytime view of the location of the shady bar connected to Beth Mason in Weehawken.

A recent rumor suggested James Barracato was in hiding from service of legal papers in Weehawken and Hoboken at the site of the Mason Civic Association, a Mason claimed charity where he also sits as one of three board members with Mason and her husband, Richard Mason of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.

Emails numbering in the four digit range obtained in the Bajardi v Pincus litigation offer evidence for a reasonable belief Barracato could be a co-conspirator in what the court in the end declared approaches a "fraud upon the Court."

Some of the bombshell emails have been exclusively published on MSV and Grafix Avenger, most recently here and here.

This edition of Councilman Peter Cunningham's e-newsletter provides information on new, more visible stop signs slated for our neighborhood, alerts residents to a critical flood claim deadline, and provides information about how to apply to join Hoboken's Community Emergency Response Team. Future editions will continue to focus on issues of importance to the 5th Ward and Hoboken as a whole.

Cunningham Backs New More Visible Stop Signs as a Needed Safety Step

Peter Cunningham strongly supported and voted to move forward with the purchase of 19 light up stop and yield signs. Three of the new 'blinker' stop signs are slated for 15th and Bloomfield Street, while 3 of the new yield signs will be installed at 15th and Garden Streets. The intersections of 9th and Willow and 13th and Willow are under consideration for placement of new signs as well.

Peter Cunningham said, "The enhanced visibility of these new signs will make Hoboken a safer place to walk, bike and drive." Cunningham encouraged 5th Ward residents to contact him if they think there is an intersection in their neighborhood that should be evaluated to see if a more visible sign would increase safety.

Policyholders with the National Flood Insurance Program who believe that they were underpaid on their Hurricane Sandy claims must register to have their claim reviewed by September 15.

To be eligible for the review, policyholders must have experienced flood damage between Oct. 27, 2012 and Nov. 6, 2012 as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Policyholders can call the NFIP's Hurricane Sandy claims center at 1-866-337-4262 to request a review.

For individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability using 711 or VRS, please call 866-337-4262. For individuals using a TTY, please call 800-462-7585 to begin the review process. Before contacting the claim center, policyholders are asked to have their flood insurance carrier name and policy number at hand.

Fall Training Sessions to Be Held For People Interested in Joining Hoboken's Community Emergency Response Team

Noting that people are as, if not more, important than infrastructure and equipment to effectively responding to intense storms and other disasters, Peter Cunningham urged any interested 5th Ward resident to sign-up for scheduled fall training sessions and become a member of Hoboken's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

Cunningham praised the dedication and skill of Hoboken's CERT Team, pointing to the fact that they have been recognized as "Community Preparedness Heroes" by FEMA, and CERT Coordinator Lou Casciano was honored as a Community Preparedness and Resilience "Champion of Change" by the White House.

According to the City, "CERT training promotes a partnering effort between emergency services and the people that they serve. The goal is for emergency personnel to train members of neighborhoods, community organizations, or workplaces in basic response skills. CERT members are then integrated into the emergency response capability for their area. CERT members also participate in assisting with large scale community events, staffing emergency shelters, and various other ways."

The free, day-long training sessions will be held at the Multi Service Center, 124 Grand Street according to the following schedule:

Dear Friend,As you may know, this November we face a critical election to maintain a majority of the Hoboken City Council. I've been proud to work with my team on the City Council as we acquired new areas for parks and open space, kept our City tax rate flat, and made Hoboken more resilient in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

To keep this momentum going, on Wednesday, August 26, I hope you will join me and come out to support four great candidates for City Council: 5th Ward Councilman Peter Cunningham, 6th Ward Councilwoman Jen Giattino, 4th Ward Candidate Dana Wefer, and 1st Ward Candidate Mike DeFusco. Peter and Jen's enormous contributions on the City Council have been essential to our many achievements. Dana and Mike are two terrific candidates who will work tirelessly on the City Council to make Hoboken an even better place to live and raise a family.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

We're in the dog days of summer but Hoboken's November election is quickly picking up steam with the approaching August 31st deadline for filing petitions to run for Hoboken City Council. One thing the weekend Hudson Distorter political column got right last weekend: the six of nine council seats up this fall are critical to Hoboken's future.

Currently, Reform oriented council members hold a slim 5-4 majority although the contentiousness of the Old Guard council alliance fractured after the stunning Reform sweep in November 2013 led by Mayor Dawn Zimmer.

"Between the Lines" struggles in diagnosing Hoboken and its politico "noisemakers." We're on tinder hooks awaiting an update to the December column predicting Mayor Zimmer's resignation. After months of repeating the mayor was stepping down, the column issued itself a reprieve earlier this year saying it would happen by September. In the end, it was likely nothing more than an Old Guard fabrication to feed the Old Hoboken voter base increasingly opening its eyes to the OG and how reform governance serves them better.

The Beth Mason reality - no one wants her

Beth Mason has been AWOL, blowing off fourconsecutive City Council meetings since Hudson Superior Court issued its scintillating July 8th frivolous lawsuit decision. She's been felled by the blow to the SLAPP-suit, having announced it herself in a live council meeting back in 2012 BEFORE it was filed.

Meanwhile, the Old Guard are bitterly complaining Mason doesn't return communications as they are trying to get favorite son Peter Biancamano going as a second ward candidate. He's being urged to get his petitions filed but suffers from a potentially fatal Hamlet (or Pupie) dilemma.

Second ward candidate-in-waiting Tiffanie Fisher is seeing an outpouring of support from neighborhood reform backers and residents dying to have actual representation on the City Council. None of which aids slow starting competing campaigns by others. Fueling Fisher further, no one's forgotten Mason ignored the second ward citizen alarm on the much detested Monarch project.

Mason's bottom feeding fish has been largely incommunicado since Hudson Superior Court Judge Arre's devastating final ruling on the three year SLAPP-suit highlighting the "misrepresentations" throughout by Beth Mason's intimate political friends Lane Bajardi and Kimberly Cardinal Bajardi.

Reliable sources say there's another reason for the stony silence. A subpoena with the fish's name on it is calling out, "here fishy, here little fishy." The fish knows and is on the run. Sign of things to come? Turnabout's fair play, especially when karmic retribution's attached.

Meanwhile, as Tiffanie Fisher marshalls support, Biancamano is collecting petitions but sitting on the sidelines flummoxed by the incumbent. Mason's former allies are "fed up" with her antics with one saying of her, "She's really a rotten person."

That wasn't the worst of it either. Add another "she is" declarative statement ending with the article "a" and the the "b" word.

That'll leave a mark.

The Old Guard's done with Beth Mason casting aside the Mason family checkbook which funded many political operations and the litigious councilwoman's political lawsuits to advance its agenda going back to at least 2009. Mason may have been their fling when her family underwrote and led the 2011 political operation to destroy Hoboken University Medical Center and with it Hoboken's finances but when it comes to the Elysian Park monster raccoon and dog attacking possum critter problem, Beth Mason stands alone.

Hoboken's Golden Girl Dana Wefer

More Sully humor on the weekend arrived with word that Dana Wefer is a Lenzbian. This will come as quite a shock to Wefer's husband who with his wife are expecting a baby girl soon. Other than being fourth ward neighbors there's no Lenzbian "connection" and Wefer isn't looking to replace Mayor Zimmer at City Hall. That noise is coming from suspect politicos not the reform fourth ward council candidate.

Sully sadly gets taken for a ride by people he should have long held accountable. Hoboken Reform's golden girl could see a Rosemary's Baby scenario being fed to him next next. Rest assured, it's Wefer's betrothed who is the daddy not the Prince of Darkness. "Between the lines" is free to use any of the published Bench Slapped emails from the Beth Mason crew if it can ever get them past the Distorter's censors. At least then you'd have a real story.

Dana Wefer represents the core of Hoboken Reform. That won't change other than her becoming BFF's with sixth ward Councilwoman Jen Giattino and anticipated second ward council contender Tiffanie Fisher. Hoboken does not suffer a dearth of competent girl power running for elected office.

The Horse revealed

People are still congratulating Da Horsey wherever we go in the Mile Square on the huge First Amendment Bajardi v Pincus win last month. The three year civil lawsuit Mason supported isn't over and there's a related criminal trial for Beth Mason's criminal allegations against MSV with a new trial date set for September 9th in Jersey City.